Skims



A. H. SCHMIDT. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND STRETCHING SKINS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25.19I9- 1 ,320, 1 0O. Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

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ALBERT H. SCHMIDT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND STRETCHING SKINS.,

l. ,320, Illill.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oer. 2%, 3 .91%.

Application filed January 25, 1913. Eerie Etc. 27E,G1 3.-

To all whom it may concern.

Beit known that I, ALBERT H. Soinrm'r, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Method and Apparatus for Drying and Stretching Skins, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being; had therein to the accompanying drawings. r\

The invention relates to the art of tanning hides and skins for leather purposes, but has more particular reference to the drying and stretching of skins of small animals, such for instance as sheep skins, goat skins and calf skins.

In the present state of the art various con.- structions of drying frames have been employed in the drying and stretching of leather, which may be generally classified in In the one type the entire skin is arranged in a plane and is stretched by nailing or otherwise securing the opposite edge portions to relatively nlovahle mono i bers. In the other type the center of the skin is drawn around. a bar so as to bring the sides intoparallel planes, the edges of said sides being nailed or clamped to a inemher which isrelatively movable to the bar. Viith both types of apparatus as heretofore constructed the stretching laterally of the skin and is applied to the sides to fully as great an extent as it is applied to the con 1'. This is objectionable, inasmuch as the center of the skin, or the portion adjacent to the backbone of the animal is much thicker than the portions at the sides. Consequently Where the tension is uniform there is a tendency for the side portions to stretch to a greater extent than the center. Thus, to equalize the thickness it is't'requently necessary to shave the central portion. A; further objection to the type of apparatus in which the skin is drawn around a bar is that the pressure of said against the skin will leave a marl: after the skin is dry.

My invention involves a new method in which th lateral tension on the shin is concentrated at the central portion, or portion of greatest thickness, while the side pertions are to a great extent relieved from tension. This results in the stretching out of said central portion, increasing the total width of the skin and decreasing the thicknose at the center, so that shaving in many any other portion, which is desirable, as this is the portion of greatest thickness and also for the reason that it contains fat wrinkles which may be drawn out.

My invention also consists "in a simple form of apparatus by which the drying and sfretchinginay be effected. This comprises a holding frame having 'mounted therein a pair of relatively inovzhle-panels, the flanks or belly portions the skin lacing margin-. ally nailed to the respective anels and the nails extending along the on s as Well as at the side edges but not across the center or ends the hack portion of the skin. After nailing, the panels may he forced apart by wedges or eqiisivalent means, which applies the-tension on the central portion of the shin hetwecn the panels and permits of 1 stretching the neck end to a greater extent inp ii-3 showing a skin nailed thereto and the e b driven in to place the skin under tension;

Fig. is side eleyatioi showing a stack or row of frames arranged for drying; Fig. 3 1S 1 perspective View of a frame with a skin ,thercen, after the removal of the wedges, showing the degree to which th skin has heen stretched at the center.

in detail A. and B are parallel side hers which are connected preferably by pairs of parallel ndhors C d D to form a rectangular frame. E c d F are panel menihers, each ocingr preferably formed of sev-- eral hoards slightly spaced from, each other and connected together at their ends by cleats G. The panels are slidahly secure-d between the pairs of end (l and D, and the cleats G are arranged outside of said and bars and operate as stops or guides to prevent disengagement. H and l are Wedges adapted for insertion between the panels E and F at opposite ends of the frame, one

I of the panels,

driven in such as F, being beveled at J and J to correspond to the inclination of the wedge.

A frame constructed as above described is exceedingly simple ant inexpensive, being formed from straight strips which may be quickly nailed together.

In use the skin is placed across the two panels E and F with the center of the back in the line of division between said panels. The skin is then nailed around this margin, as indicated at K; after which the frame may be reversed and another skin may be similarly nailed to the opposite sides of the panels. The wedges H and I are then to place both skins under tension; after which the frames may be stacked, as indicated in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the pairs of end bars C and D space the frames from each other so as to leave a sufficient air space between the skins for proper drying. .Also the panels '16 and F being formed of a lurality of boards spaced from each other will permit of cross circulation of the air and access to all parts of the skin.

' During the drying process the wedges H and I may be tightened from time to time, as may be necessary to properly stretch the central portion of the skin, and the wedge H, which separates the portions of the panels to which the neck of the skin is attached, may be driven to a greater degree than the wedge I. Thus the thick skin will be stretched out and thinned and also most of the fat wrinkles will be straightened out.

After the drying is completed the wedges may be released and, as shown in Fig. 3, the central portion of the skin will be con siderably increased in width. The skins may then be removed again for other work.

l/Vhile l have described a specific construction of apparatus, it is obvious that it. can be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention. As for instance, other means for separating the panels may be substituted for thewedges ll and 1. However, I find the wedges to be very satis factory, both on account of simplicity in (01151 rnction and 'lor the reason that the operator may walk along the row and by tapping on the ends of the wedges tension the skins as required. The operator will soon acquire sullieient skill to determine just what force should be applied to the wedge to effect. the stretching without danger of overstraining or tearing.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a process for drying and stretching skins, the step of applying lateral tension to the central portion of the skin or port ion adjacent to the back bone, which is in excess of the tension applied to the flank or belly portions thereof.

2. In a process for drying and stretching and the frames used skins, the step of stretching the central per-- tion of the skin or portion adjacent to the back bone to a greater extent than the flank or belly portions thereof.

3. The process of drying and stretching skins, comprising the marginal securing of the opposite flank or belly portions of the skin to separable members, and the separation of said members to stretch the central portion ofthe skin or portion adjacent to the back bone. i

at. The process of drying and stretching skins, comprising the securing of the opposite flank or belly portions of the skin with the margin of each portion 'at the side and end thereof relatively fixed, and the separation of the two portions to effect stretching and thinning of the central portion of the skin or portion adjapent to the back bone, said portion being free at its ends.

5. The process of drying and stretching skins, comprising the nailing of the flank or belly portions on opposite sides of the center of the skin marginally at side and ends thereof-to separatepanels, and forcing said panels apart to stretch the central or back portion. of the skin which is unattached at its ends.

G. The process of drying and stretching skins, comprising the mounting of a pair of skins on opposite sides of a pair of panels withthe center or back portion of each skin adjacent to the line of division between the panels and at sides and ends thereof, marginally nailing the portions of each skin 100 upon opposite sides of the center to the respective panels, and forcing the panels apart to simultaneously stretch the central portion of each skin.

7. An apparatus for stretching skins, 10.5 comprising a pair of relatively movable. panels adapted for the marginally nailing at side and ends of the respective flank or belly portion of a skin on opposite sides of tlie central or back portion thereof, a frame 110 in which said panels are slidably mounted, and means for forcing said panels apart.

8. 'An apparatus for stretching skins comprising a pair of panels adapted for the marginally nailing at side and ends of the 115 flank or belly portions of a skin upon opposite sides of the center or back portion thereof, a frame in which said panels are slidably secured, and means for forcing said panels apart ditl'erentially at opposite ends.

t). An apparatus for stretching skins, comprising a pair of adjacent panels adapted for the mounting respectively of the portions of :1 skin. on opposite/sides of the center thereof, a frame in which said panels are slidably 125 secured, and wedges adapted to be driven between the panels at opposite ends thereof to force the same apart.

10. An apparatus for stretching skins, comprising a frame formed of side bars and' 3 pairs of spaced end bars connecting said. side bars, panels extending lClC-SS s21 id frame slid-able be' 'mveen Hm mace?! and b21115, and naming for forcing said lJflDK-Iii; apart at up" posite Ends thereof,

11. An apparatus foi'stretc ir gskins prising a frame foiinod 01 side pairs of spaced and bars panels each comprising a piui'aiity of spaced boards .1 mi ing across said frame and netw tie spaced and hairs, and cleats for Sfllflkl'illg the boardsof the same, panel iii-lunged outside, of said end bars.

12. i Ll apparatus for stratching skins, comprising a frame farmed of side bars and pairs'of spaced and bars, panels; excendmg 7 sun of spawn hoards (:Jsitending through bagween said and bars, cleats pan-ali 10 and uniaide of said and mars securing ule boards 03? aha szmnv panel to each other, and wedges adapted 0 be. driven between the and bars to force raid pancis apart.

13. An apparatus for stretching akins comprising a frame formed of side bars and i of spaced end burs, panels extending new: said frame hetween the spaced end bars and in the plane of said side bars, and wedges adapted to be driven between said 011d bars to :imrce said panels apart.

In tesiinlony WhElUfif l aliix my signature.

ATQJBERT H. Si JHBHET.

frame, each comprising a piu- 

